A & J Bent Farms Ltd.
The Bent Family: Jennafer (Class of '14), Alana, (Class of '17) Jonathan, Jacqueline and Allen (Class of '81). Missing, youngest son, Adrian.
鈥淚 had breakfast with Allen,鈥� is a joke Allen and Jacqueline Bent hear often. As part of Farmers Dairy鈥檚, We are Your Farmers, campaign, their dairy farm (and Allen himself) is featured on cartons of milk in households across the Maritimes.
Although being profiled in such a feel-good campaign is quite an honour, it鈥檚 not what makes the Bents most proud of their family farm, A & J Bent Farms Ltd in Lawrencetown, NS. It鈥檚 the fact that their dairy operation is just that 鈥� a family farm. Family farming is a lifestyle, a choice. For Allen and Jacqueline it鈥檚 what they both grew up with, it鈥檚 what they enjoy. They believe it is the best way to raise a family.
鈥淲atching our four children grow-up on the farm, being in the barns and around the animals gives us so much pride,鈥� says Jacqueline. 鈥淩aising our kids on the farm has instilled so many important values 鈥� responsibility, organizational skills, strong work ethic and punctuality.鈥�
Both Allen and Jacqueline grew up in dairy farming families.聽 Since 1994 they have owned and operated their farm, which they purchased from Allen鈥檚 parents.聽 As partners not only in marriage, but in business, they both actively participate in the day-to-day running of their operation.
The Bents milk 135 cows, mostly Holsteins, plus about 10 Jerseys.聽 The farm is self-sufficient in production of grains and forages. A few years ago, they undertook a major expansion of their operation, installing a new parlour and expanding their quota holdings by 50 per cent.聽An additional 56 freestalls were also added to their freestall barn.
Within their family-run operation, A & J Bent Farms Ltd have two long-time employees, one-full time and another full-time seasonal. They are thrilled to be welcoming a new Agricultural Campus graduate to their farm this spring.
They truly enjoy what they do. 鈥淔or us, farming is so much better than a typical day job,鈥� says Jacqueline. 聽As Allen and Jacqueline run their farm each day, their kids are never far. 鈥淎llen and I can work here on the farm and the kids have always been able to see what we do. The kids have direct access to their parents, while we work. Our family can be together.鈥�
Allen and Jacqueline work hard to maintain a high calibre operation, but at the end of the day they can look back and see a lot has been invested into their children too. 鈥淲e teach the kids to take the tools they have and apply those tools to do the absolute best they are capable of. We don鈥檛 preach win, win, just work hard and do your best.鈥�
The 鈥渂est鈥� is just what the Bents do. They are committed to producing top quality milk each and every day so that the best product possible reaches the store shelf and ultimately the consumer. Last year they were named Agropur Region 16 milk quality champion. Prior to this honour, they received the Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia Excellence Award in all but two of the 20 years they have been shipping milk.聽
While maintaining milk quality the Bents also strive for image. 鈥淚mage is so important to consumers and rightfully so,鈥� adds Jacqueline. 鈥淚t is so important to us to maintain a nice property that is neat and tidy, keep a clean barn and make sure the cows are comfortable.鈥�
As any other farmer can relate, it鈥檚 not always easy. 鈥淣ot everything will go as planned,鈥� adds Jacqueline, 鈥減lans and trips can get cancelled. There are blips in the road all the time.鈥� However, the Bents have learned to adapt. 鈥淲e just roll with the punches.鈥� At the end of the day it comes back to the same thing, they are doing what they love and they are doing it together. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always WE, we are a team.鈥�
Allen and Jacqueline鈥檚 oldest daughter, Jennafer graduated from Dalhousie鈥檚 Agricultural Campus in the spring of 2014 while their other daughter, Alana, finished up this year. The tradition might not stop there. The Bent鈥檚 oldest son, Jonathan, has the Agricultural Campus on his radar for when he graduates from high school this June. Youngest, Adrian, has a few years to decide.
Regardless where the kids each end up, they鈥檒l undoubtedly be reminded of their hard working roots and their family farm, whenever they open the fridge to grab a carton.
